Brand "signatures"

I've started noticing that bike companies often have "signatures" of various sorts. Bianchi Celeste may be the most famous of these -- not every Bianchi is Celeste, but if it's Celeste, it's a Bianchi. There are threads on the Classic and Vintage forum about the patterns different old-school framebuilders worked into lugs. Specialized likes to put a little arch into top tubes, Marin uses angled tubing.

I've noticed that some of the clothing companies use astrological symbols. I guess this is a bit different but it's kind of interesting. I wonder why. Giordana- the archer (Sagittarius), Castelli- the scorpion (scorpio).

You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. That's great...if you want to attract vermin.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

The story I got was back in the day when Italy still had a monarchy(Like GB, no power, just to look good), Bianchi came up with a bike and painted it a god awful green. Like they had a bunch of leftover batches, threw em in a bucket and what came out look like technicolor yawn. They named it "Celeste" in honor of the Queen and presented it to her with great flair, pomp, and ceremony. Those Italians really know how to put on a show. You can guess what her name was. I used to sell Bianchi's and at first I absolutely hated it, but I finally came around to liking it. Now that my sales floor is not full of that color, I remember it fondly.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

Originally Posted by making

Please dont outsmart the censor. That is a very expensive censor and every time one of you guys outsmart it it makes someone at the home office feel bad. We dont wanna do that. So dont cleverly disguise bad words.

The story I got was back in the day when Italy still had a monarchy(Like GB, no power, just to look good), Bianchi came up with a bike and painted it a god awful green. Like they had a bunch of leftover batches, threw em in a bucket and what came out look like technicolor yawn. They named it "Celeste" in honor of the Queen and presented it to her with great flair, pomp, and ceremony. Those Italians really know how to put on a show. You can guess what her name was. I used to sell Bianchi's and at first I absolutely hated it, but I finally came around to liking it. Now that my sales floor is not full of that color, I remember it fondly.

Bianchi cycles are traditionally painted in the highly recognizable "celeste", a turquoise colour also known as "Bianchi blue" although it tends more towards green. There are two opposing legends concerning the origin of this colour - some say it is the colour of the Milan sky, others say it was the colour of the eyes of the former Queen of Italy, for whom Edoardo Bianchi once made a bicycle.

Interesting anecdote (if true) over at CyclArt about Gios Blue. In short:

"For years, we did not have a toner for Gios Team Blue. ... Finally, a customer turns out to be a pigment chemist. He analyzes the sample and identifies it. Yes, its a cobalt base all right, so toxic it's illegal damn near everywhere. ... But a Gios looks awful navy blue! " --Jim Cunningham, CyclArtist

No, CyclArt is not using cobalt. Read the story. The point is people go to great lengths to get the right color.

One of the most distintive frame brand signatures is the curly seat stays of the Hetchins. Back when time trialling was a covert activity similar to alleycat racing, no brand stickers were permitted hence the distinctive frame.